CyArk unveils virtual Mount Rushmore experience with new insights

CyArk has launched a new virtual experience of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the USA. This immersive experience offers fresh visual perspectives of the monument and brings together its engineering feats, artistic significance, and the complex cultural narratives embedded in the Black Hills landscape. CyArk is a renowned nonprofit dedicated to digitally documenting and celebrating cultural heritage.

Accessible to anyone on web, mobile or tablet, the experience transports visitors to the top of the mountain, looking eye to eye with the towering faces of former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. From this vantage point, visitors can better understand the intricate artistry and scale of the carvings in a way that’s not possible on-site. The experience also includes a look inside the Hall of Records, a little-known chamber behind the memorial, as well as a tour of the Sculptor’s Studio. Here, users encounter a 1/12 scale model of the original design, which features full busts of the presidents, revealing sculptor Gutzon Borglum’s early vision for the memorial.

Engineering and artistry

"Mount Rushmore is one of the most recognized memorials in the world, but its story is far more layered than many people realize," said John Ristevski, CEO of CyArk. "We are proud to share this experience in a way that both highlights the engineering and artistry of the site, and acknowledges the deeper histories of the land on which it stands. Our goal is to bring the complexity of this place to light and make it accessible to new audiences."

A key element of the project is the inclusion of multiple voices offering diverse perspectives on the memorial. In addition to the historical context provided by museum professionals, the experience features commentary, music and dance from Indigenous cultural interpreters who share personal reflections on the significance of the land now widely known as the Black Hills.

Shaping the narrative

Built on a highly detailed 3D digital twin of Mount Rushmore, this virtual experience combines cutting-edge documentation methods, including terrestrial Lidar scanning and high-resolution photogrammetry. The model draws from data captured during the 2010 Scottish Ten project – a collaboration between the Scottish Government, the Glasgow School of Art and CyArk – as well as imagery collected during a 2016 CyArk expedition. These datasets were merged to reconstruct the memorial with millimetre-level precision, capturing not only the iconic presidential sculptures but also lesser-known features like the Hall of Records and the Sculptor’s Studio. To enrich the experience, CyArk worked closely with local partners – shaping the narrative through interviews with historians and Indigenous cultural interpreters, and layering in archival photos from the memorial’s construction.

This virtual journey reflects CyArk’s broader mission: expanding access to cultural heritage and encouraging open, inclusive conversations about history. It becomes the latest addition to CyArk’s growing Tapestry series, which brings global landmarks and local treasures to life through interactive storytelling.

The experience can be explored here.